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You Mean "Boffins" Isn't A Term Of Respect?

Posted by timothy on from the and-here-all-this-time-i-was-thinkin' dept.

Wolfcat writes "SCIENTISTS no longer want to be called boffins, saying the name conjures an image of weird men in lab coats. The president of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), Chris Fell, today said 'boffin' also suggested scientists were not part of the real world." Look soon for a redacted version of The Register.

39 comments

  1. Crackers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I bet this'll be about as successful as the self-proclaimed "hackers" trying to rename the people that break into computers. Or those who insist that the word "piracy" can't possibly ever be a synonym for "copyright infringement".

    1. Re:Crackers by Simon+Field · · Score: 2, Funny


      While you're right about the chances of success, your comparisons might be a little off.

      The first one is about a group of people trying to rename another group. The second one is weak because the "pirates" wouldn't want to be called "copyright infringers" either. They would rather claim "fair use".

      To get the media to change the name for them, they need to invent a new meaning for the term, so the media will have to distinguish scientists from boffins. So if they secretly fund a group of Lilliputian terrorists, on the condition that they name themseves "boffins", then the media will be forced to make a distinction, to avoid being misunderstood.

      Perhaps we can start calling copyright infringers boffins, and help out the Australian scientists.

      --

      Free book: Science Toys You Can Make

    2. Re:Crackers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I knew my second comparison wasn't perfect. I just wanted to get in something against the "pirates use ships and steal cargo from other ships and stuff, so we're OK" crowd, even if it was a bit of a stretch. :)

  2. But on the other hand by Genoxide · · Score: 3, Funny

    "SCIENTISTS no longer want to be called boffins, saying the name conjures an image of weird men in lab coats."

    Hmm... when I hear "Boffin" I think of Hobbits.. not scientests!

    1. Re:But on the other hand by ArsonPerBuilding · · Score: 1

      Boffin.....sounds like a pastry.
      Hmmmm....donuts.

      --
      1 tequila 2 tequila 3 tequila floor
    2. Re:But on the other hand by Rhinobird · · Score: 1

      I hear the word 'boffin' and I think of puffins, those funky arctic birds. But, i'm in the US...what's a boffin anyway?

      --
      If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  3. whatin'? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I've never heard the term "boffin". What the hell are they so upset about? I suggest 99.9% of people have never heard of that term used to describe a scientist.

    Besides, "boffin" sounds like "boffing" as in "screwing". And what scientist doesn't need to be at least a little more associated with sex?

    Oh - and nobody cars what scientists want to be called. People usually don't get to choose what they (or their profession) is referred to as. I mean, if hookers wanted to be known as "physical pleasure service engineers" people would still call them hookers, whores, prostitutes, callgirls, ladies of the night and so on. So what.

    1. Re:whatin'? by Genoxide · · Score: 1

      It's true that scientests DO need to be more associated with sex than they have been of late.. But so do we! I mean, has it been any different for us geeks? We have, and for quite a long time I might add, been associated with unwashed, no style, longhaired, antisocial misfits, and it's not that long ago that has started to turn around.
      And that has only happened because computers have become more mainstream, and since the need for qualified computer personel has grown out of proportion of everyones expectations. This has meant that we now have a much wider array of people than before.

      Although I don't think science will ever become THAT mainstream, it's still not unthinkable that they will follow in the footsteps of the computer geeks, since people now see us as a lot less geeky than before, they might open their eyes to other types of people that have been socially blacklisted if you know what I mean... Then will follow historians, engineers and mathmaticians :)

      And as you say, people don't care what others want to be called. We are still, quite often, called nerds, but at least the word has taken on a different meaning than it's had before.. At least where I live (Denmark) now it's considered to be a mainly positive word.

    2. Re:whatin'? by Eccles · · Score: 1

      It's true that scientests DO need to be more associated with sex than they have been of late.

      Perhaps, but given that boffing is a slang term for having sex, removing that close association seems counterproductive.

      --
      Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
  4. According to MY version of the OED... by tgv · · Score: 3, Funny

    A boffin is "a person engaged in scientific (esp. military) research".

    So, if you're a genuine pacifist scientist, you might oppose, but otherwise it's just another way of making sure that in 20 years time scientists will oppose to being described as "scientists", as it will have some negative connotations.

    Imagine, this is on "FASTS"'s top ten issues for 2003. I guess one of the other issues is: what to do when you have too much spare time.

    1. Re:According to MY version of the OED... by HamNRye · · Score: 2, Funny

      Gee, if an accurate term becomes an insult, what is an accurate view of your profession?? Next, whores will be complaining that the term "Whore" is negative, and makes it seem like they sleep with lots of guys. Hello Boffins! You really are funny little men in lab coats.

      I am a geek. I can write volumes about how to win at Civ. I program fractals in Perl. Calling me "Technically Adept" is just a polite way of saying "Programs fractals in Perl". Perhaps instead of Boffins we could call them "Logrolling patent whores". OOOH! I like the sound of that...

      Besides, this is from Australia. They haven't had a big scientific breakthrough since Yahoo Serious put the bubbles into beer.

      In related news, certain Quarks have objected to being labelled "Strange" by Austrailian scientists. "It's demeaning," said an unidentified quark, "How do you look at your kids and say, 'We're strange quarks honey.' Last thing I need is some funny guy in a lab coat imposing his own view of normalcy on my existence."

      ~Hammy
      I've got a brand new release of PGP
      You've got a brand new key...

  5. Given the obvious root... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .."boff", boffins would appear to be slang, due to lack of a g. (It could be argued that the g becomes silent due to regional dialect.)

    If I were these scientists, I wouldn't want to be called 'a bunch of fucks' either.

    (:

    1. Re:Given the obvious root... by Doctor+Hu · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Hmm. Possibly, but... my dictionary gives the origin as being military slang, and although the military are not exactly well-known for being polite in their everyday language, boffin's been around for quite a while; I'm pretty sure I can recall it being used back in the 1950's, at a time when the 'f' word was still very taboo in regular society. I'm not convinced that such a vulgar coinage would have leaked out into general use (the less extreme counter-example of "bumf" notwithstanding).

      --
      Yes, it's lunchtime here. How did you guess?

    2. Re:Given the obvious root... by CptCook · · Score: 2, Funny

      I guess it's understandable though that they don't want to be referred to as boffins. That surely just makes the general public think of stereo typical mad scientists!!

  6. Smart Scientists use RPN... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...So why don't you?

    5 * e^(4 + 3/2)

    is

    5 * exp ( 4 + 3 / 2)=

    11 keystrokes

    vs

    3 Enter 2 / 4 + exp 5 *

    9 keystrokes

    1. Re:Smart Scientists use RPN... by Tsar · · Score: 1

      ...So why don't you?
      5 * e^(4 + 3/2)
      is
      5 * exp ( 4 + 3 / 2 ) = [11 keystrokes]
      vs
      3 Enter 2 / 4 + exp 5 * [9 keystrokes]

      Actually, if I were using AOS, I'd use
      4 + 3 / 2 = exp * 5 = [10 keystrokes]
      So RPN would only save me one keystroke. Of course, there are better examples of RPN's efficiency, but I'm not the boffin that you are.

    2. Re:Smart Scientists use RPN... by Smidge204 · · Score: 1

      On my TI-35x:

      5.5 (2nd) (e^x) (*) 5 (=)

      8 keystrokes. :)

      =Smidge=

    3. Re:Smart Scientists use RPN... by Bowling+Moses · · Score: 1

      What's going on with HP/Compaq/whatever? The best calculator they've got is the HP 48GX, which was the top-of-the-line new model when I bought my 48SX in 1993. It used to be that if you were an engineer or scientist, you owned an HP period. No exceptions unless you were one of the old farts whose slide rule could only be taken from their cold, dead hand. Now these younger students are showing up with these TI POS's and won't touch an HP--RPN is beyond them. Not so bad since no one else will use my (superior) calculator, but what am I going to do when my HP finally croaks? I don't want to use anything but RPN, damnit!

    4. Re:Smart Scientists use RPN... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dunno. The HP-49G seems in most ways to be superior to the 49GX. It is lacking many things that I would like (like expandability and infrared comm). It was released in 1999.

      My guess is that HP dropping its calculators because it realized (and rightly so) that they are low profit and that PDA's will eventually make them obsolete. In fact HP shut down its australian calculator operations (they made the 49) and it doesn't appear that they have any intention of opening anything to make a 49SX or GX.

    5. Re:Smart Scientists use RPN... by TheEngineer · · Score: 1

      c/o http://www.hpcalc.org for all of the details on the demise of the HP calculator program.

      I've purchased several "used" HP48GXs from eBay to replace my beloved when it fails.

      Another option that I've found really handy is to get an emulator (off hpcalc.org) and run my HP48GX on my Windows PC. There's also an emulator that runs under Windows CE so you can run it on a handheld PC.

      --
      JB
  7. I can see the Register guys scrambling by Frantactical+Fruke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Going

    s/boffins/funny men in white lab coats/

    all over their database...

  8. Term of abuse or recognition of ability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    When I was at school 'boffin' was used as aterm of abuse by the nasty bullies to describe the bright kids who actually had a brain in their heads.

    I was called a boffin. At the time it hurt, now I wouldn't really have a problem with it as I think of someone using the word as recognising that someone has a technical knowledge that should be admired (it's a favourite of the British tabloid press).

    No-one calls me a boffin anymore and I don't really feel like one. I can't even remember my Slashdot password!

    1. Re:Term of abuse or recognition of ability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Boffin!

    2. Re:Term of abuse or recognition of ability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Your password is:

      F0rg3tful8offIn

      You're welcome!

  9. Or they could apply the geek solution... by Doctor+Hu · · Score: 4, Insightful
    And reclaim the term as one of respect.

    Doctor Hu (one of several 'old farts' and 'dinosaurs' who are helping to keep our employer's head above water.)

  10. In Other News... by CTD · · Score: 3, Funny

    The West Coast activist group, Californians Remove Air's Sensless Simplifications, has begun to lobby the Californian senate to pass a resolution banning the public use of the word 'air', supporting the use of 'atmosphere' as a better term.

    "We feel that people don't take the levity of the atmosphere serious enough." said Nancy Pender, President of CRASS, "They are always saying things like "The sky is falling." and yet they still pollute the atmosphere. We seek to force them to use a larger word, so they have to think harder before they pollute."

    *****

    This is stupid. 'Scientist' is now going to have to be filed next to 'Sanitation Engineer' as another politically correct job description? Phoey! I think it's a conspiracy. Those eggheads never stop to pull their lame brains out of books and computers! Someone must have formed a PAC around them while the geek squad was not looking. I suspect the Barvarians...

    --
    Grimwell - old, cranky, mean, obsessive
  11. You mean you couldn't solve that in your head? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The answer to life the universe and everything (including that equation) is 42.

  12. Boffins vs. BOFHins by Ratfor77 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but is BOFHin still acceptable?

  13. spare time by AstroMage · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine, this is on "FASTS"'s top ten issues for 2003. I guess one of the other issues is: what to do when you have too much spare time.

    The answer, obvioiusly, is "go read Slashdot and post funny comments..." :-)

  14. Where is this term from? by ggwood · · Score: 2

    I have never heard the term "boffin" before and I have hung out at physics departments for over 12 years where many people have ties to military research. But mostly in Southern California.

    So my question is, to those of you who have heard this term, or use it, where are you? Anyone here on the west cost? Do I just live a sheltered life? (Hey, I *like* shelter).

    Cheers,
    Greg

    --
    a war on terrorism? How can we end a war on a method?
    1. Re:Where is this term from? by FranticMad · · Score: 1

      I've heard it used concerning British scientists during WWII -- the folks who invented radar, decoded the German's enigma machine, designed the Spitfire. It was a term of endearment, I think.

    2. Re:Where is this term from? by jchristo · · Score: 1

      I believe the Boffins were characters in a Dickens novel; originally making a living by being trashpickers, they received a great deal of money in an inheritance. Although illiterate, they were very curious and interested in learning, and paid educated youngsters to read to them. (They were also very gentle people).

  15. Boffin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Never heard of that name. It seems to me they are just promoting it. Maybe this is some kind of reverse psychology.

    Anyway, I always thought scientists were called Beakers.

  16. Who cares what people think. by Domini · · Score: 1

    Scientists who worry about these things aren't part of the real world and deserve to be called boffins.

    A boffin is a dysfunctional scientist, and not just any scientist.

    -grin-

  17. Thoughts on Boffins by Idarubicin · · Score: 3, Informative
    For those who don't know, boffin is a slang term for a scientist. Sometimes it also is applied more generally to people who are very bright, technically adept, and slightly odd. It might be used in a cotext similar to 'nerd' or 'geek', though it has a friendlier tone.

    The term is most popular in the United Kingdom and some of its former colonies (not Canada, however.) In the United States, the only place you're likely to hear it is on imported television, particularly the series Junkyard Wars (a.k.a. Scrapheap Challenge in the U.K.; it runs on Wednesday nights on TLC.) On that note, host Cathy Rogers can call me whatever she wants. Junkyward Wars also exposes the world to words like bodge (v., n., syn. kludge) and brill (adj. syn. Awesome! Derived from 'brilliant'). For further Britishisms, refer to the British-American Dictionary.

    To close, then. I'm a boffin, and proud of it. If the Australians are too uptight to recognize a compliment when they hear one--well, they can sod off.

    --
    ~Idarubicin
  18. Kinda like "Geek" by signingis · · Score: 0

    They probably dislike it as much as some people hate being called a geek. Fuck'em. They should take it as a term of endearment.

    --

    I prefer a void in conversation to a vacuous one.
  19. EG: He was "boffin" her. by wwwssabbsdotcom · · Score: 1

    As someone else previously mentioned, "boffin" or "boffing" was the act of sexual intercourse in the slang. Probably because Im too young, I never heard of the other definitions for scientists, etc...

    --
    Relive the BBS Past - One Byte at a Time! www.ssabbs.com
  20. Boffins, Hornblowers, and Proudfeet by Madcapjack · · Score: 1
    Frankly the only time i've heard the word Boffin was from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Ring. Boffin was a family name for the Hobbits of the Shire.

    could it be maybe that scientists just don't like to be called hobbits?

    --
    Logic, macros, and more